Final chance for wannabes to make Steelers roster

Wednesday

PITTSBURGH — For the most part, tonight’s final preseason exam is all about the Steelers wannabes.

“It’s the last opportunity for a lot of men to make an impression,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

So don’t expect to see much of the first-team offense or defense.

Instead, get ready for a large dose of backups and third-stringers trying to prove they deserve spots on the opening-day 53-man roster.

“I just want to go out there and seize the moment,” said Dennis Dixon, a rookie quarterback.

While there are interesting roster battles at most positions, the situation at quarterback is especially intriguing.

Obviously, Ben Roethlisberger is set as the starter.

But now that backup Charlie Batch is out indefinitely with a broken collarbone, tough decisions must be made regarding other QBs on the roster.

On one hand, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers cutting Byron Leftwich, who was signed after Batch got hurt.

A former starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Leftwich is coming off a strong performance in Saturday’s 12-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s also hard to imagine the Steelers cutting Dixon, a fifth-round draft pick with exceptional athleticism. If placed on the practice squad, surely another team in need of quarterback depth would sign Dixon away.

A Heisman Trophy candidate at Oregon last year, Dixon seems 100 percent recovered from a knee injury that curtailed his senior season with the Ducks.

Then there’s the question of what do to with Batch, a solid backup, one of the most well-liked players on the team and a hometown hero who does much community work in the Mon Valley where he grew up.

But right now, he’s an injured QB on the mend who might not be healthy for three or four more weeks.

Will Batch, 33, be cut?

Will Batch be placed on the waived/injured list?

Might the Steelers dare to buck tradition and keep four quarterbacks?

“We’ll cross that bridge after this performance,” said Tomlin, who’s on record as saying he prefers to keep three QBs on the active roster.

“Like I have said all along, that is a decision we have to make at an appropriate time. We need to gather all of the information based on the quality of play (of Leftwich and Dixon) and the health of Charlie in terms of what direction we go in. We’ll hold our cards until necessary.”

The Steelers have until 4 p.m. Saturday to make those decisions.

“All things considered, it wouldn’t be the most surprising thing that ever happened if they keep four (quarterbacks),” said Leftwich, 28. “You never know. I just have to go out there and play football and left that speak for itself.”

Tonight, both Leftwich and Dixon will get plenty of chances to make that last impression on Tomlin.

Roethlisberger will play one series for sure and maybe two.

Leftwich will then finish off the first half.

Dixon is expected to play the entire second half.

“Yeah, I am a little worried (about surviving the final cut), because you never know what they’re thinking,” said Dixon, who ran for a 47-yard touchdown two weeks ago in a 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“The thing for me is that I’m just trying to get better every day. I’m just taking it one day at a time.

I’d like to think I’m progressing every day and that I’m turning into the kind of player they want me to be.”

Tonight, Leftwich and Dixon have one more chance to prove without a doubt that they deserve to be Steelers.

Mike Bires can be reached online at mbires@timesonline.com

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